Updated on September 8th, 2023
‘Vegan’ simply implies that whatever product it is is manufactured from plants and does not contain animal products,” Julie explains. Coconut milk, almond milk, or soy milk are used in most vegan ice creams. None of the bases are derived from animals, and none are derived from plants.
Ice cream is, without a doubt, the best dessert for getting us through the sweltering summer. If you’re vegan, vegetarian, or lactose intolerant, you’ve probably had some difficulty locating ice cream that you can eat. That is no longer the case! We’ve compiled a list of locations where you can get vegan ice cream and have it delivered safely to you, so you can have a nutritious and tasty vegan dessert, ranging from classic chocolate to exotic mango.
What is Vegan Ice Cream, and What Ingredients does it Contain?
Vegan ice cream is a dairy-free substitute for ice cream.
The following animal-based ingredients are commonly found in dairy ice cream:
Milk from a cow
cream with a lot of fat
Vegan ice cream substitutes plant-based alternatives for the ingredients listed above. Vegan ice cream substitutes plant-based components for cow’s milk.
Almond milk is milk made from almonds.
Cashew milk is a drink made from cashews.
Milk made from soy
Milk made from coconut
Pea protein from the faba bean (also called fava bean).
The lipids included in milk and cream give dairy ice cream its deep, creamy flavor. Plant-based fats like almonds, cashews, and coconuts are used in vegan ice cream to help produce the creamy texture we expect from this frozen delight.
Here are a Few of Our Favourite Places to Get a Vegan Ice Cream Scoop:
Ghirardelli Chocolate & Ice Cream Shop
Established in San Francisco, this chocolate company operates ice cream stores in California and numerous other states. It recently debuted its first vegan ice cream flavor, Cosmic Bliss’ coconut-based vanilla ice cream (formerly Coconut Bliss).
Dairy Queen is a company that produces dairy products.
Dairy Queen has released its first vegan frozen treat, a gluten-free version of its popular Dilly Bar, after years of pressure from PETA. The coconut cream–based soft serve in the Non-Dairy Dilly Bar is encased in a crunchy chocolate coating. Availability varies by the franchise, so check with your local store to see if this choice is available. If not, say you’d like to give it a shot! To discover a Dairy Queen near you, go to the store.
Amy’s Ice Cream is a company that makes ice cream.
“By popular demand, we at Amy’s created our very own vegan ice cream based on our most popular flavor [Vegan Mexican Vanilla]!” says Amy’s Ice Creams. Vegan chocolate and a vegan coffee flavor are also offered on rare occasions. At least one non-dairy option is available regularly at each Texas-based chain’s Austin, Houston, and San Antonio locations.
Ben & Jerry’s is a popular ice cream company.
After introducing vegan pints, cruelty-free scoops became available at select Ben & Jerry’s locations around the country. Caramel Almond Brittle, Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, Coconut Almond Fudge Chip, and Cold Brew Coffee Fudge Chip are just a few vegan flavors available.
Halo Top
Halo Top is a calorie-conscious favorite. Last year, Halo Top unveiled new vegan flavors, making non-dairy ice cream dreams true. Nondairy chocolate and cookie dough ice cream are now available at Halo Top Scoop Shops in Los Angeles.
Jeni’s Delightful Ice Cream
Jeni Britton Bauer of Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams set out to “create a plant-based ice cream utilizing… beautiful and amazing plants, cacao and coconut with little more.” The first was a dairy-free Dark Chocolate Truffle flavor made with fair-trade, Dutch-processed cocoa powder. Cold Brew With Coconut Cream, Roasted Peanut Butter & Strawberry Jam, Texas Sheet Cake, and Caramel Pecan Sticky Buns are among the new vegan flavors added since then. Jeni’s scoop sells all of the varieties online and in-store.
McConnell’s Fine Ice Creams is a company that makes fine ice cream.
McConnell’s Fine Ice Creams, situated in Santa Barbara, California, has been known for its dairy “products” for over 70 years. Now, the company is delivering exactly what customers want: vegan ice cream scoops. Cookies & Cream, Dark Chocolate Chip, Eureka Lemon & Marionberries, Toasted Coconut Almond Chip, and Turkish Coffee are the wonderfully creamy varieties now available. According to the business, the new flavors “go great with Netflix and couches” but “do not go well with milk as it would really defeat the whole idea.” Today is the last day to enjoy the new vegan flavors at your local McConnell’s scoop store. You’re out of luck if you’re not near a scoop store. It’s no problem! Pick up a pint at a Gelson’s or Bristol Farm’s grocer, or click here to order one online (or many).
Why is Vegan Ice Cream Becoming Everyone’s New Favourite?
Because it is cruelty-free and healthful, and some of it tastes exactly like ice cream made from cow’s milk.
If you’re not sure why milk is unethical, consider cows must be pregnant to produce milk, and humans are the same way. A farmer artificially impregnates cows by inserting his hand into the anus of the cow and injecting bull sperm. When a cow gives birth, the calf is removed and fed artificial milk, leaving more milk for people. If the calf is a girl, she will share her mother’s fate. For veal, a male is murdered when he is only a few months old, and this vicious cycle will continue until a cow is slaughtered.
Is it Possible to Enjoy Vegan Ice Cream?
It all depends on your personal preferences. Some people are unconcerned, while others are. It doesn’t taste as wonderful as milk-based ice cream, in my opinion. However, some of them taste nice, and many people claim there isn’t much difference. It depends; for example, coconut milk has a strong coconut flavor. Some soy-based ice creams aren’t as creamy as others, but they taste more. Many vegan ice creams are available, and both vegan and non-vegan tasters enjoy them.
Which Vegan Ice Cream Company is the Best?
It depends on the flavor and type of plant milk for some people. In the United States, I have access to the following brands:
I’ve been a fan of Trader Joe’s Chocolate Cherry soy ice cream for a long time. I also enjoy the Salted Caramel Cluster from Such Delicious features cashew milk ice cream. Ben & Jerry’s has 9 wonderful almond milk ice cream flavors! Unless you’re allergic to soy, Trader Joe’s Chocolate Cherry soy ice cream is preferable to Cherry Garcia. My Grandmother and I recently tried Ben & Jerry’s Cinnamon Buns, and we agree that it tastes more like a decadent pumpkin pie than cinnamon rolls.
Is Vegan Ice Cream Healthier than Traditional Ice Cream?
Let’s compare Swedish Glace Vanilla Non-Dairy desert to Haagen Dazs Vanilla Ice Cream (they can’t call it Ice Cream because there’s no cream).
The vegan has a slightly higher sugar content (but so do other dairy ice creams), and the vegan has a slightly higher salt content, although the levels are minimal. The biggest difference is in fat content: Swedish Glace has 5.8 grams per 100 calories (4.9 grams of which are saturated), whereas Haagen Dazs has 17 grams per 100 calories (10.4g is saturated). Overall, I believe we can answer “yes” to the question: vegan ice cream is a little healthier. Of course, the healthiest option is to avoid eating ice cream!
What are the Advantages of Vegan Ice Cream Over Dairy Ice Cream?
There are several compelling reasons to choose vegan ice cream over dairy ice cream:
It may help you maintain a healthy cholesterol level.
Dairy ice cream contains a lot of saturated fat because it’s usually produced with milk and cream, and this sort of fat has the potential to raise dangerous cholesterol levels.
First, let’s clear up some misconceptions concerning cholesterol. This is a chemical that your body produces, and it isn’t necessarily detrimental to one’s health.
High-density lipoprotein (HDL) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) are the two forms of cholesterol produced by your body (LDL).
HDL cholesterol is beneficial to one’s health, and it aids in detoxifying your body, and the more of it you have, the better.
LDL cholesterol, on the other hand, isn’t as innocuous. This sort of cholesterol is bad for your health and related to heart disease and stroke. It’s usually a good idea to minimize the quantity of LDL cholesterol in your body, and LDL cholesterol levels can rise due to saturated fat consumption.
Saturated fat is abundant in full-fat dairy products commonly used in classic ice cream. Dairy ice cream, as a result, has the potential to elevate cholesterol levels and affect your health.
For lactose-intolerant people, this is a better option.
Lactase is an enzyme that helps your body digest milk. This enzyme is produced in insufficient amounts in some people’s bodies, and they cannot digest milk as a result. Lactose intolerance is the medical term for this condition.
Abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea, and flatulence are all symptoms of lactose intolerance. The severity of these symptoms is determined by your body’s ability to manufacture lactase and the amount of milk you’ve drank.
Lactose intolerance is more widespread than you might think. According to the National Institutes of Health, this illness affects 30 to 50 million persons in the United States.
Animals are not harmed.
Commercially bred dairy cows are reared in inhumane conditions. They have to live in crowded quarters and are compelled to reproduce and sacrifice their calves without having the opportunity to raise them.
If you are concerned about how cows are treated, one measure you can take is to avoid purchasing dairy-related goods. Non-dairy ice cream allows you to substitute an ethical, plant-based alternative for ice cream manufactured with cow’s milk.
What is the Best Advice on Pick a Healthy Vegan Ice Cream?
As previously stated, not all vegan ice creams are much healthier than dairy-based ice creams. If you want to buy healthy plant-based ice cream, there are a few things to check for before purchasing.
Here are some suggestions for selecting a non-dairy ice cream that is healthy:
Choose one with a low saturated fat content.
Saturated fat, as previously stated, can elevate the amounts of dangerous cholesterol in your body. Before buying plant-based ice cream, check the nutrition label to see how much-saturated fat it contains. Choose one with a serving size of no more than 5 grams of saturated fat.
Choose one with low sugar content.
Sugar is linked to a variety of health issues. High blood pressure, weight gain, fatty liver disease, inflammation, and diabetes have all been associated. A high sugar intake can also increase your chances of heart attack or stroke.
Vegan ice creams have a wide range of sugar content. Some of these items contain a lot of sugar, and others are very low in sugar, substituting it with erythritol or other sugar substitutes.
Some vegan ice cream flavors have 20 grams of sugar per serving. Choose a plant-based frozen dessert with no more than 10 grams of sugar per serving.
Conclusion
If you enjoy ice cream, there are several vegan options available. Vegan ice cream has become so popular that companies like Ben & Jerry’s and Haagen-Dazs have entered the market. The top vegan companies are really high-quality.
